Community assistance program
Council’s Community Assistance Program for 2019 is now open. The program assists not-for-profit community organisations to provide a wide range of activities and services to residents. Grants are available for projects that directly benefit and address the priority needs of Blue Mountains residents. The program also recognises the contribution community organisations make to the quality of life and wellbeing of the local community.  Completed application forms must be returned by 5pm on Monday 6 May.
Go to https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/grants for more information

Get to know your weeds
Did you know? We now all have a responsibility to control Priority Weeds, under the NSW Biosecurity Act. We have programs in place for dealing with Priority Weeds, including inspecting private lands and controlling weeds on public lands. Council’s Urban Weeds Team inspect about 2000 private properties each year. The process begins with Council sending a Notice of Entry to notify you of a pending inspection. Following the inspection, if Priority Weeds are identified, you’ll receive a Presence of Priority Weeds letter and an Information Booklet which outlines how to treat the weeds. You will then have approximately 6 weeks to control the weeds voluntarily.
Weeds are everybody’s responsibility.
Go to bmcc.nsw.gov.au/weeds for more.

Say 'No' to trash fashion
Australians buy an equivalent of 27kg of new clothes and textiles annually. Three-quarters of this ends up in the household garbage bins.  Add the tonnes of used clothing that charity stores can't use and you have the big pile of fast fashion going to landfill.
You can help reduce fashion waste and save resources and landfill by simply reusing and repairing clothes and shopping sensibly. Download the flyer.
Go to bmcc.nsw.gov.au/waste-events for more.

Planning a renovation?
The average renovation generates about five tonnes of waste. If it’s mixed together, it’s likely to end up in landfill AND cost you more money to dispose of. The good news is that the following demolition waste can be recycled if sorted, saving you over $100 per tonne in waste charges.
✔ Timber and wood waste
✔ Unreinforced concrete and bricks
✔ Metals
✔ Roof tiles
✔ Terracotta pipes
✔ Clean fill (at Blaxland Resource Recovery and Waste Management Facility only)
Remember to Plan, Sort and Save. It makes sense for your wallet and the environment. * Please note: Asbestos cannot be accepted at Katoomba facility. It is accepted at the Blaxland facility by appointment only. It must be wrapped in builders plastic and secured with strong tape. Call us on 4739 2432 for advice or to make a booking. For more info visit bmcc.nsw.gov.au/council/asbestos * 
For more info on renovation waste visit bmcc.nsw.gov.au/a-zwaste

Have your say on the year ahead - delivery plan and budget
To continue building a successful and sustainable future for the Blue Mountains, we will spend more than $140 million during 2019-2020 on a wide range of services and facilities to support our community and the environment. Council has prepared its draft update of the Delivery Program 2017-2021 and Operational Plan for 2019-2020 and invites the views of the community. The draft documents will be on public exhibition from Wednesday 1 May until Wednesday 29 May 2019.
The Draft Operational Plan 2019-2020 includes: four-year and one-year priority actions; asset works program; budget; rating statement; special variation expenditure; and fees and charges. It also presents a new operating model and organisation structure that is designed to increase efficiency and improve service delivery. Click here to have a look and have your say.